Photo How To

Most beginning photographers are enthusiastic about their new creative pursuit, but sheer passion alone is not enough to get the job done. That's because practice, a firm understanding of the fundamentals, and appropriate gear are essential if one is to develop their skills.

Correct technique is essential for fast and precise focus, and sometimes it's necessary to give your camera some help. That's because if you focus on the wrong spot within the frame, all is lost before you snap the shutter—even if you use a high-end pro camera with a premium lens.

The quick video below is one of those "I wish I knew this before" tutorials with a super-simple technique for enhancing photos in a way that's almost too good to believe. It works in both Lightroom and Photoshop, takes barely 10 minutes to learn, and you can start using it today.

Every so often we come across a Lightroom tutorial that reveals a quick trick that you absolutely shouldn't miss. In this case it's what one expert calls a "secret Lightroom feature that that can really supercharge your workflow." Best yet, it takes less than two minutes to explain and can dramatically enhance just about any image you capture.

Earlier today we posted a tutorial with a foolproof in-camera method for shooting photos with perfect exposure. But what if you want to improve photos you shot in the past that don't quite hit the mark? The lesson below from the FJR YouTube channel demonstrates how easy this is to do with Lightroom's powerful Dodge and Burn tools.

Something magical tends to happen once the sun drops below the horizon: scenes that were dull and unimpressive during the day are often transformed into sparkling tableaus full of interesting light, vivid colors, and captivating reflections—while all the boring stuff disappears into the shadows.

Many photographers shy away from portraiture for a couple reasons: Either they lack an understanding of on-camera flash, or they don't own more complicated (and expensive) lighting gear. Today you'll learn an alternative approach that delivers beautiful people pictures without supplemental illumination.